How to Start and Sell a Paid Newsletter That Works

This episode features a clip from our Premium Ghostwriting Academy Hot Seat live session, where we break down how to launch a paid newsletter in a way that works. Many people rush into charging for content without knowing if there’s real demand. The key is understanding what makes people willing to pay—not just information, but insight, perspective, and personal experience.

We’ll cover why testing your audience first is important, how to sell a small paid product before committing to a full newsletter, and how to structure content so subscribers stick around. If you’re thinking about monetizing your writing, this episode will help you take the right steps.

(0:00) Introduction and question recap: How to structure a paid newsletter
(1:31) Why free content helps build demand before launching a paid version
(4:13) The difference between what people consume for free vs. what they’ll pay for
(7:06) Testing demand by selling a one-time product before committing to a subscription
(10:23) How to turn a successful book, report, or product into a paid newsletter
(13:16) The challenges of recurring revenue and why retention matters

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